Acceleration Times & Test Conditions

Entry Point Bowrider The 192 Islander is the entry point in Baja’s line of performance bowriders, and she’s one of the more versatile sportboats we’ve seen.

Baja Baja

Good Helm Layout While this really is a sit-down helm as there are no seat bolsters, the helm chair does slide way aft to accommodate even the tallest drivers.

Cockpit Seating The cockpit is traditional with an aft bench seat for three with molded in fiberglass footrests and stowage for cockpit cover underneath.

Captain's Report

An Entry-Level Bowrider for the Whole FamilyThe 192 Islander is the entry point in Baja’s line of performance bowriders, and she’s one of the more versatile sportboats we’ve seen. She can be ordered fully rigged as a ski or wakeboard boat as was our test boat, or as a true entry-level performance boat without the watersports bells and whistles. Either way, speed is a big part of the package.TransomThe extended platform is an option but it’s really required for easy wakeboarding. Skiers can simply hook up to this standard ski tow eye and boarders will hitch their towlines atop the optional tower. The tower itself comes with mounting racks for 4 boards, and these massive aft-firing speakers will keep your athletes on their toes back there. When its time to reboard, the platform has a deep 3-rung ladder.Power PlantYou can reach the 5-liter MerCruiser easily with one hand by lifting the hatch which is supported by 2 gas assist struts. There’s a fiberglass liner in here for a clean finish, so you’re not looking directly down into the bilge.It is easy to get to all required fluid fills too, and it is just as easy to close it down when you’re ready to take off.CockpitThe cockpit is traditional with an aft bench seat for three, with molded in fiberglass footrests and stowage for cockpit cover underneath, and stainless steel grabrails along the inwales. Just forward and to starboard is the helm featuring bucket seating. At the helm is a good line-up of red backlit Livorsi gauges including tach, speedo, fuel, and depth gauge. And while this really is a sit-down helm as there are no seat bolsters, the helm chair does slide way aft to accommodate even the tallest drivers. Baja never ceases to amaze us with good ideas, and here’s another one. This optional igloo cooler slide out, in, and locks very easily and it never even so much as ratted around on our test boat. This is just below the JBL stereo and 12 volt adapter for your cellphone or watertoy’s air pump.At the BowThe forward cockpit area is fairly straightforward with twin forward facing lounges with self-draining storage below. All together, there’s seating for 3 or 4 , with good stainless steel grabrails.And of course there’s a deep insole locker here to store your skis and boards. It’s a basic lid that’s strong, but so light-weight that it does not require support struts.And finally, if wakeboarding is not your thing, there is a standard version of the 192 Islander in a straight bowrider configuration.Specifications and PerformanceWith a dry weight of 2,850 pounds and a slim 7’11” beam, the 192 will be at home in many garages and is easily trailerable with a standard SUV.Out on the test track, we got a top-end speed of 52 miles per hour with a 5 liter MPI MerCruiser, and a best cruise of 142 miles doing 42 miles an hour. With economy like that, you’ll be able to make several trips to the skiing grounds before heading in to the fuel dock.Available as a basic sportboat or a tricked out watersports boat, this 192 Islander is sure to speed up your family boating experience.

Test Result Highlights

Best cruise for the Baja 192 Islander is 42.0 mph (67.6 kph), and the boat gets 4.26 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.81 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 142 miles (228.53 kilometers).